Environmental & Healthcare Legislative Watch50 States · D.C. · U.S. Congress
From official state and federal legislative records. Informational only, not legal advice.
With a committee
A small team of lawmakers (a committee) is reading it closely and deciding if it's a good idea.
Next: the committee votes on whether it moves to the full chamber.
In plain words
AI summaryWritten by AI from the bill text. Check the official text before relying on it.
SCS/SB 1536 - This act establishes the Designated Health Care Decision-Maker Act. Specifically, a health care provider or health care facility may rely on good faith and reasonable medical judgment for health care decisions made by designated health care decision-makers if two physicians determine that the patient is incapacitated. The physician or the physician's designee shall make reasonable efforts, as described in the act, to inform potential designated health care decision-makers of a patient's incapacitation. Designated health care decision-makers may be selected from the following persons listed by priority: (1) The spouse of the patient; (2) An adult child of the patient; (3) A parent of the patient; (4) An adult sibling of the patient; (5) A grandparent or adult grandchild of the patient; (6) The niece or nephew or the next nearest relative of the patient; (7) A religious person who is a member of the patient's community; (8) Any nonrelative with a close personal relationship who is familiar with the patient's values; or (9) A person unanimously agreed upon by those in the priority list. Priority shall not knowingly be given to those listed if abuse or neglect is reported, the person with priority cannot be reached by the physician, or if the probate court finds that the person with priority is making decisions contrary to the patient's instructions. Furthermore, this act does not prevent any person interested in the patient's welfare, a health care provider, or a health care facility from petitioning the probate court for the appointment of a guardian. A designated health care decision-maker shall make reasonable efforts to obtain information regarding the patient's health preferences and make decisions in the patient's best interests. Additionally, a designated health care decision-maker may only authorize the withdrawal or withholding of nutrition or hydration supplied through either natural or artificial means in c
